AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Starfish is a bisexual organism and undergoes regeneration as a method for asexual reproduction. In binary fission, the parent organism’s cell divides exactly into two genetically identical daughter cells. During the process, the central discs present in the mature starfish break into two pieces.

Detailed explanation-2: -Six-armed starfish capable of fission split their disk into two three-arm halves that both regenerate into a six-armed starfish. Starfish with seven arms are split into a three-arm and four-arm halves, which both regenerate into a seven arm starfish.

Detailed explanation-3: -Sea stars can reproduce sexually and asexually. In sexual reproduction, fertilization occurs in the water with males and females releasing sperm and eggs into the environment. The much less common asexual reproduction occurs as a result of dismemberment that marks the formation of two whole starfish with the same DNA.

Detailed explanation-4: -Asexual reproduction amongst starfish is through fission where the starfish’s central disc is split into two pieces or autotomy where one or more of the starfish’s arms are lost. Some starfish can regenerate from just a fragment of one arm. A single arm which has become separated from its host is known as a comet.

Detailed explanation-5: -all the offspring will be genetically identical. Sea stars (starfish) can reproduce asexually by fragmentation if their arms are cut off, or sexually by releasing sperm and eggs into the water.